Some thoughts from the Niners 18-6 loss

-I’m not in favor of J.T. O’Sullivan beginning the regular season as a starter, but I understand Mike Nolan starting O’Sullivan in the preseason. He wanted to see O’Sullivan in live action and now that O’Sullivan turned the ball over twice, hopefully Nolan gains some sense and goes back to Alex Smith or Shaun Hill. Sure, Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson and Ashley Lelie didn’t play, thus reducing all the quarterbacks’ passing options, but turnovers are turnovers.

-Nolan elected to kick a field goal rather than go for the touchdown on 4th-and-2 from the Raiders’ 4 just before halftime. Nolan said that he’s trying to work on special teams, but was there any doubt Joe Nedney can make a 22-yarder? Nolan bypassed an early opportunity to instill confidence in his team and show the many young players on the Niners that aggressiveness is an important quality to succeed.